Advantages And Disadvantages Of Hydroponics

AGRICULTURE & FOOD

Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fibre, biofuel, medicinal and other products used to sustain and enhance human life. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilisation, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the development of civilisation. Agriculture is one of the most important human life supporting systems required for living.

For agriculture in the space settlement we use:-

• Hydroponics

• Aquaponics

HYDROPONICS

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in water based nutrient rich solution. Hydroponics does not use soil; instead the root system is supported using an inert medium such as perlite,

A hydroponic system will also use less water than soil based plants because the system is enclosed, which results in less evaporation. Believe it or not, hydroponics is better for the environment because it reduces waste and pollution from soil runoff.

The disadvantages of hydroponics are:-

• Despite the fact that a hydroponics system has so many advantages, there are actually a few disadvantages as well. The biggest factor for most people is that a quality hydroponics system of any size will cost more than its soil counterpart. Then again, dirt isn’t exactly expensive and you get what you pay for.

• A large scale hydroponics system can take a lot of time to setup if you aren’t the most experienced grower. Plus, managing your hydroponics system will take a lot of time as well. You will have to monitor and balance your pH and nutrient levels on a daily basis.

• The greatest risk with a hydroponics system is that something like a pump failure can kill off your plants within hours depending on the size of your system. They can die quickly because the growing medium can’t store water like soil can, so the plants are dependent on a fresh supply of